To provide an efficient, effective and safe technical service to students and lecturers. This will include a number of administrative tasks.

To line manage the team of technicians supporting the curriculum within Science.

Hours

This is full-time for 37 hours per week and may include occasional evenings or Saturdays. Occasionally extra hours may be required; for this, time off in lieu will be given

Salary

Grade E - £19,920 - £21,380 pa

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

Support in the Classroom

To co-ordinate and advise on the practical aspects of the science curriculum, with an emphasis on Biology, including liaison with teaching staff and support staff outside the area.

This will include the purchase of materials; giving technical advice to lecturers, technicians and students; carrying out demonstrations; designing constructing and modifying experiments. To advise on techniques and skills requirements to perform particular experiments as a complimentary role to new or inexperienced teaching staff.

Consumable and Capital Equipment

To manage resources to ensure availability of suitable materials and equipment, which will include compiling orders, liaising and negotiating with suppliers and finance departments. To ensure that there are effective stock control systems to ensure the most effective use of resources within the science department. Maintaining up to date records of departmental expenditure and budgetary status for science areas as required. (The CTM for the area is the budget holder). To ensure that appropriate laboratory documentation systems are in place and maintained e.g. loan of equipment, petty cash, first aid record. To ensure both routine and non-routine checking, cleaning, maintenance, calibration, testing and repairing of equipment are carried out and to the required standard.

Health and Safety and Testing

To ensure and promote the maintenance of a healthy and safe environment through actively contributing to the assessment, monitoring and review of both health and safety procedures and information resource within the Science area.

This will include:

keeping up to date with current procedures and practices, either by attending courses or by reading publications;

providing technical support and advice on health and safety issues to teaching and technical staff;

ensuring the safe treatment and disposal of hazardous substances within the Science department and responding to actual or potential hazards;

ensuring the healthy and safe storage, disposal and accessibility of equipment and materials;

To have an overview of risk assessment as applied to substances and practical aspects of schemes of work to ensure that all experiments are performed safely in liaison with teaching staff. To ensure that all chemicals and solutions in use are labelled with appropriate symbols. To participate and contribute to the development of the department’s safety policy.

Management and Administrative Responsibilities

Line management will include responsibilities such as appraisal, coaching and developing, inducting, recruiting, prioritising workloads, managing annual leave and other arrangements. In addition to: Overseeing the day-to-day processes carried out by the staff. Ensuring deadlines are met. Ensuring students/customers are dealt with efficiently and consistently. Reviewing and introducing work systems. Responsible for the training and supervision of trainee technicians and work experience students. Assist the Technical Resources Manager to forward plan technical support, communicating plans, delegating and coordinating as appropriate. Advise and support the work of the Science technicians by providing technical back-up and support as necessary. Support the Technical Resources Manager in maintaining quality systems and service level agreements and in preparing the Self Assessment Report for the team.

Any other duties/training/development which may be required which are commensurate with the post holder’s skills, experience and grade.

Data Protection

You are required to meet the specifications of the College’s Data Protection Policy as part of your conditions of employment. This will include information relating to past and prospective employees and students, suppliers and customers.

Equality and Diversity

Halesowen College is embedding equality of opportunity principles in its activities and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified people, irrespective of age, sex, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, disability, race, ethnic or national origin, religion or beliefs, sexual orientation, unrelated criminal convictions or family responsibilities. Applications from potential job sharers are welcomed.

There is a duty not to discriminate against staff, students or potential students by reason of their age, sex, sexual orientation, gender re-assignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, disability or religion and belief.

The College is proud of the diversity amongst its students, staff and governors. We welcome all sections of the community and value the contributions to the achievement of the College’s mission that are made by members of the College from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.

All staff must demonstrate an awareness of equality and diversity principles, as set out in College policies.

Childcare Facilities

There is a day Nursery on the Whittingham Road campus for children aged 2 to 5 years. It

is open 8.00 am to 5.30 pm Monday to Thursday and 8.30 am to 5.00 pm Friday. Further details are available from the Nursery staff on 0121 602 7777 Ext. 302.

Information Technology

The College has around 2500 computers across its sites including PCs, laptops, netbooks and Macs running a range of industry standard software. Equipment is available for long and short term loans, and guest access to our wireless network is provided for personal devices. We also run a PC booking system to ensure you can get access to a computer when you need it.

All staff and students are given a personal computer account with access to email and storage which is available on and off site.

A wide range of classroom technologies are in place such as the Moodle Virtual Learning Environment, cameras, voting devices and interactive whiteboards/data projectors.

Health and Safety

The College and its employers have legal obligations in respect of the health, safety and welfare of persons at work and the protection of others against risks to health and safety in connection with their activities. Specific health and safety responsibilities are detailed in the college Health and Safety Policy.

Smoking

Halesowen College is a designated smoke-free environment within the parameter of all College property by order of the College Governors. This rule applies equally to staff and students, and to all categories of visitor. Acceptance of this rule is a condition of employment for staff, and a condition of being a student for students.

CRB Disclosure

All staff must undergo an Enhanced CRB Disclosure and cannot commence employment until satisfactory clearance is received. All staff should attend relevant training on safeguarding children. Halesowen College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The recruitment interview will explore an applicant’s suitability to work with children/young people.

This College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Note: This Job Description is current at the time of issue. It should be recognised that, in keeping with organisational changes and developments, it may be necessary to review the duties listed from time to time and to change them to meet organisational objectives.